Hounslow Council today demanded a comprehensive assessment of the health impact of living near Heathrow.

It repeated calls for a thorough investigation into how noise and air pollution affect the health of those living and working near the airport.

The request came as Heathrow today launched a task force on national connectivity, looking at how transport links between the airport and the rest of the UK can be improved.

Hounslow's deputy council leader Amrit Mann said: "We have called for a comprehensive health assessment on the impact of Heathrow but unfortunately it has fallen on deaf ears so far.

"We have taken another opportunity to repeat this call because our residents deserve a better – not a bigger - Heathrow."

Responding to the council's comments, a Heathrow spokeswoman said: "We recognise that as well as bringing huge benefits to the UK and the local communities, an airport of the size and importance of Heathrow can have downsides for people living nearby.

"We are already taking significant steps to tackle both noise and air pollution as a result, Heathrow is improving steadily, due to emission controls on road vehicles and industrial sources and encouraging airlines to use cleaner, quieter aircraft.

"We are committed to ensuring this reduction continues and have set stretching targets to do this."

Heathrow announced its new task force would be chaired by Lord John Shipley, a former leader of Newcastle City Council, who worked as regional director of The Open University.

It also made its latest submission to the Airports Commission, setting out how it would connect the whole of the UK to global growth.

Heathrow's chief executive John Holland-Kaye said: "Only an expanded Heathrow can provide the connectivity needed to connect the whole of the UK to global growth

"Businesses and individuals from across Great Britain want to use the UK’s hub airport as their global gateway to overseas markets.

"We already have strong and improving road and rail links to Heathrow. This task force will advise us on how to better connect Heathrow to the excellent regional airports across the UK."

The Airports Commission is due to make its recommendation next summer about whether a third runway at Heathrow or a second at Gatwick should be built.